Methods and apparatus for media selection in cluster printing systems

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus are provided for specifying media in cluster printing systems that include printers that use device-specific media selection techniques, such as paper catalogs, media tray pulldown menus and media attribute pulldown menus.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/299,435, filed 12 Dec. 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. ______, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/980,530, filed 3 Nov. 2004,now U.S. Pat. No. 6,974,269, which is a continuation of U.S. applicationSer. No. 10/610,128, filed 30 Jun. 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,962,449.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to digital printing, and more particularly tocluster printing systems. Most print output devices, such as copiers,printers, facsimile machines and other similar print output devices(collectively referred to as “printers”), may be used with a widevariety of output media. Indeed, conventional printers typically includeone or more media trays that accept many different media types, sizes,colors and weights. When a user submits a print job to such a printer,such as by selecting a “Print” function from within a word processing,spreadsheet, page layout, or other software application, the applicationtypically calls a print driver that permits the user to specify numerousprint output specifications, such as a desired media for the print job.A user interface on conventional print drivers typically includespull-down menus that allow the user to select a specific media tray orspecific media attributes for printing the print job. For example, if auser knows that desired media are loaded in Tray 2 of the printer, theuser may select Tray 2 from a media tray pulldown menu, and the printjob will be printed on media extracted from Tray 2. Alternatively, aprint driver may allow a user to specify media attributes, such as type,size, color or other attribute rather than specifying a particular mediatray. For example, if any of a printer's media trays includes Letterheadpaper, a user may specify Letterhead from a media type pulldown menu,and the print job will be printed on media extracted from a tray thatincludes Letterhead.

For conventional office or home printers, the number of different mediatrays and attributes is usually small, and the media specificationprocess is usually quite straightforward. Indeed, most office or homeprinters include only a few media trays, and typically use only ahandful of different media attributes. For commercial print shopprinters, however, the number of different media sources and attributesmay be quite large. Indeed, a commercial print shop printer may havemany different media trays that may be loaded with media having a largenumber of different attributes. For example, a printer used in a printshop may have six media trays that each may be loaded with media havingany of twenty different colors, ten different sizes, five differentweights, and three different hole-punching styles.

If a printer supports many different media attributes, the printer mayprovide pulldown menus for selecting media attributes, such as mediasize, type, weight, color, and other attributes. Thus, a user may findit quite time consuming to specify each media attribute for every printjob. To simplify this selection process, some previously known printsystems include a paper catalog for media selection. An exemplarypreviously known paper catalog is illustrated in FIG. 1. Paper catalog10 is a two-dimensional array that associates one or more media names 12with a corresponding set of media attributes 14. In the illustratedexample, media names 12 are associated with attributes “Size,” “Color,”“Weight” (in grams per square meter, “g/m²”), “Type,” and “Mode.” Asystem administrator typically creates the various entries in the papercatalog for commonly used media. Once the paper catalog is created, auser may specify desired media for a print job by selecting any one ofthe entries in the catalog via a print driver or other job submissionmeans, such as a proprietary downloader or Web submission means.

For example, a paper catalog may include a first entry named “Letter” todesignate media that are 8.5×11″, white, 75 g/m², plain, single sided ordouble sided, and capable of being hole-punched, and a second entrynamed “Letter Pink” to designate media that are 8.5×11″, pink, 75 g/m²,plain, single sided or double sided, and capable of being hole-punched.For print systems that use a paper catalog, the media selection processis simple. Rather than navigating through numerous media attributepulldown menus and submenus, a user instead only needs to select adesired media name from a single paper catalog pulldown menu. When theprint job is submitted to the printer, the media attributes associatedwith the selected media name will be communicated to the printer, andthe printer will extract media from the appropriate tray that includesmedia having those attributes. Paper catalogs therefore have greatlysimplified the media selection process.

In addition to improvements in the media selection process, printsystems have also advanced in other ways in recent years. Indeed, printtechnology has advanced to provide “cluster printing,” in which multipleprinters may be coupled together in a network. In particular, clusterprinting systems may be used to couple multiple printers together toform “virtual printer groups.” One exemplary cluster printing system isVelocity™ workflow software, including the Velocity Balance Server™,licensed by Electronics for Imaging, Inc., Foster City, Calif. Velocitysoftware may be used to couple many printers together, regardless ofbrand and model, to appear as a single virtual printer group on anetwork. Velocity software can load balance a single “long” print jobamong multiple printers, split color from black-and-white pages in thesame document, route a print job to the best available printer based onthe number of pages and other characteristics, send a print job to analternate printer if a currently selected printer is out of paper ortoner or if there is a paper jam, and automatically send certain typesof jobs to specific printers, based on specified criteria such as mediacharacteristics, finishing options and device capabilities.

Referring to FIG. 2, an exemplary previously known cluster printingsystem is described. Cluster printing system 20 includes one or moreclient devices 22 a-22 c coupled to server 28, which is also coupled toone or more printers 32 a-32 d. Client devices 22 a-22 c may be personalcomputers, laptop computers, handheld computers, computer workstations,personal digital assistants, cell-phones, fax machines, or any similardevice that may be used to provide print jobs 24 a-24 c, respectively,for printing. Client devices 22 a-22 c may be coupled directly to server28, or may be coupled to server 28 via a communications network 26.Server 28 may be a personal computer, laptop computer, handheldcomputer, computer workstation or any similar device that includessoftware and/or hardware that provides cluster printing capabilities.

Printers 32 a-32 d may be printers, copiers, fax machines, laserprinters, plotters, inkjet printers, wide format printers, or othersimilar printers that may be used to provide print output 34 a-34 d,respectively. Printers 32 a-32 d may be the same make and model, or mayinclude more than one make and model of printer. For example, printer 32a may be a 12 page per minute (“ppm”) black and white printer, printer32 b may be a 50 ppm black and white printer, printer 32 c may be a 32ppm color printer, and printer 32 d may be a 75 ppm color printer.Printers 32 a-32 d may be coupled directly to server 28, or may becoupled via network 30. Networks 26 and 30 each may be a local areanetwork, wide area network, wireless network, the Internet, or anysimilar network. Networks 26 and 30 each may be a single network or mayinclude multiple networks, and the two networks may be the same network.

A user of any of client computers 22 a-22 c, such as client computer 22a, may create virtual printer clusters that include various combinationsof printers 32 a-32 d. For example, a user of client computer 22 a mayform a first virtual printer group including printers 32 a and 32 b, asecond virtual printer group including printers 32 c and 32 d, a thirdvirtual printer group including printers 32 b, 32 c and 32 d, and so on.A corresponding print driver for each virtual printer group may then beinstalled on client computer 22 a, and print job 24 a may then besubmitted to any of the virtual printer groups by specifying the desiredvirtual printer group from a printer selection menu.

One problem associated with previously known cluster printing systems,however, pertains to media selection. Because cluster printing systemsmay be configured with printers that include more than one make andmodel of printer, the constituent printers in each virtual printer groupmay not use a single media selection process. For example, some printersin a cluster printing system may provide media selection via a papercatalog, other printers may provide media selection via media traypulldown menus, and still other printers may provide media selection viamedia attribute pulldown menus. Further, even if several printersprovide media selection via paper catalogs, the printers may not use thesame paper catalog. Thus, printer 32 a may provide media selection via afirst paper catalog, printer 32 b may provide media selection via asecond paper catalog that differs from the first paper catalog, printer32 c may provide media selection via media tray pulldown menus, andprinter 32 d may provide media selection via media attribute pulldownmenus.

Previously known cluster printing systems typically address this issueby providing print drivers that include a superset of media selectionoptions for all printers in the corresponding virtual printer group.Thus, a print driver for a virtual printer group that includes all fourprinters 32 a-32 d may permit media selection using the first papercatalog, the second paper catalog, the media tray pulldown menu andoptionally other media attribute pulldown menus, such as a media typepulldown menu. A problem may occur, however, if these different mediaselection techniques do not use a consistent convention for designatingmedia. For example, printer 32 a and printer 32 b each may have threepaper trays, with the first, second and third trays of each printerloaded with white paper having weights of 80 g/m², 75 g/m² and 70 g/m²,respectively. The first paper catalog may classify theses media weightsas “Heavy,” “Medium,” and “Light,” respectively, whereas the secondpaper catalog may classify the exact same media weights as “80 g/m²,”“75 g/m²,” and “70 g/m²,” respectively. If a user submits a print job 24a to the virtual printer group and selects an entry from the first papercatalog that specifies Medium weight paper, the entire print job will besent only to printer 32 a, because only printer 32 a recognizes a mediaweight designated as Medium. This is true even though printer 32 b is afaster printer that has the exact same media as printer 32 a, and couldprint some or all of the print job.

In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide methods andapparatus for simplifying and unifying the media selection process forcluster printing systems.

It further would be desirable to provide to provide methods andapparatus for providing a universal paper catalog for cluster printingsystems.

SUMMARY

This invention provides methods and apparatus for specifying media incluster printing systems that include printers that use device-specificmedia selection techniques, such as paper catalogs, media tray pulldownmenus and media attribute pulldown menus. An exemplary cluster printingsystem includes a server computer coupled to a client device and aplurality of printers, the plurality of printers coupled to form avirtual printer group, wherein the server computer further includes apaper catalog having a plurality of entries, each entry associating aname with a media attribute, and a media selector tool adapted to allowa user of the client device to select media for printing a print job tothe virtual printer group by selecting an entry in the paper catalog. Anexemplary method includes providing a paper catalog that has a pluralityof entries, each entry associating a name with a media attribute, andselecting an entry in the paper catalog to select media for printing aprint job to the virtual printer group.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned objects and features of the present invention can bemore clearly understood from the following detailed descriptionconsidered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which the samereference numerals denote the same elements throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a previously known paper catalog;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a previously known cluster printing system;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary cluster printing system inaccordance with this invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a universalmedia selector in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of an exemplary universal paper catalog inaccordance with this invention;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary embodiment of a universal paper catalog entryeditor in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary embodiment of a user interface window inaccordance with this invention;

FIG. 8 is an exemplary embodiment of another user interface window inaccordance with this invention;

FIG. 9 is an exemplary embodiment of another user interface window inaccordance with this invention;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary embodiment of another user interface window inaccordance with this invention;

FIG. 11 is an exemplary embodiment of another user interface window inaccordance with this invention;

FIG. 12 is an exemplary embodiment of a paper catalog translator inaccordance with this invention;

FIG. 13 is an exemplary embodiment of a tray associator in accordancewith this invention; and

FIG. 14 is an exemplary method for selecting media in a cluster printingsystem in accordance with this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 3, an exemplary cluster printing system 20′ inaccordance with this invention is described. Cluster printing system 20′includes client devices 22 a-22 c coupled to server 28′, which is alsocoupled to printers 32 a-32 d. Although three client devices 22 a-22 cand four printers 32 a-32 d are shown in FIG. 3, a greater or lessernumber of devices may be included in cluster printing system 20′. One ormore of client devices 22 a-22 c may be coupled directly to server 28′,or may be coupled via network 26. Similarly, one or more of printers 32a-32 d may be coupled directly to server 28′, or may be coupled vianetwork 30.

In accordance with this invention, server 28′ includes universal mediaselection tool 40, described in more detail below. Each of printers 32a-32 d uses a corresponding device-specific media selection technique 42a-42 d, respectively, to select media for that printer. For example,media selection technique 42 a may be a first paper catalog (e.g. “PaperCatalog 1”), media selection technique 42 b may be a second papercatalog (e.g., Paper Catalog 2), media selection technique 42 c may be amedia tray pulldown menu, and media selection technique 42 d may be amedia attribute pulldown menu, such as a media type pulldown menu. PaperCatalog 1 and Paper Catalog 2 may be the same paper catalog, or may bedifferent paper catalogs. As described in more detail below, universalmedia selection tool 40 permits a user of any of client devices 22 a-22c to specify media for printing print jobs 24 a-24 c on any virtualprinter group including printers 32 a-32 d using a universal papercatalog.

Referring now to FIG. 4, an exemplary universal media selection tool 40in accordance with this invention is described. Universal mediaselection tool 40 includes universal paper catalog 44, entry editor 46,paper catalog translator 48 and tray associator 50. FIG. 5 illustratesan exemplary universal paper catalog 44 in accordance with thisinvention. Universal paper catalog 44 is a two-dimensional array thatincludes one or more entries that each associate a media label 52 withcorresponding media attributes 54. In the illustrated example, medialabels 52 are associated with attributes “Size,” “Type,” “Weight,”“Color,” “Hole Punch,” and “Tab Positions.” Exemplary attributes 54 aremedia attributes typically encountered in cluster printing systems.Persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the attributes54 other than those shown in FIG. 5 may be used, the order of theattributes may be interchanged, and more than or less than the number ofattributes shown may be used.

Referring again to FIG. 4, entry editor 46 may be used to create,import, export and edit paper catalog entries in universal paper catalog44. FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of entry editor 46 inaccordance with this invention. Entry editor 46 may be any conventionalwindowed user interface that displays entries from universal papercatalog 44 and includes function buttons 56 a-56 g for modifying theentries. Exemplary function buttons 56 a-56 g include “ADD,” “DELETE,”“COPY,” “IMPORT,” “EXPORT,” “SAVE,” and “CANCEL” functions. Persons ofordinary skill in the art will understand that function buttons inaddition to or other than those shown in FIG. 6 may be used.

ADD function button 56 a may be used to add a new entry to universalpaper catalog 44. When ADD function button 56 a is selected, an AddPaper Entry pop-up window 58 may be displayed, as shown in FIG. 7. AddPaper Entry window 58 includes editable fields 60 a-60 f for enteringthe information for each entry regarding Label, Size, Type, Weight,Color, and Hole Punch, respectively. Each of these fields will bediscussed in turn.

Label field 60 a may be used to enter an alphanumeric label used toidentify the media associated with the entry. For example,“MyPinkLetterTab” may be used as an identifying label. Size field 60 bmay include a pulldown arrow for selecting the media size from a list ofpredetermined media sizes. For example, predetermined media sizes mayinclude Letter, Legal, Tabloid, A4, A3, 9×11″, 11×17″, Envelope #10, andother commonly used sizes. Optionally, a “custom” size may be includedthat permits a user to specify a custom media size in English units,metric units, or points.

Type field 60 c may include a pulldown arrow for selecting the mediatype from a list of predefined media types. For example, predeterminedmedia types may include Plain, Letterhead, Label, Recycled, Transparent,Translucent, Tab, or other commonly used media types. Optionally, a“custom” type may be included in the pulldown list that permits a userto specify a custom media type. If the type is specified as “Tab,”another pop-up window (not shown) may appear that enables the user tospecify tab parameters, such as the number of tab positions (or numberof cuts), tab offset dimensions, and other similar tab parameters.

Weight field 60 d may be used to specify the media weight. For example,the media weight may be specified in g/m² as any value from 1-999 g/m².Persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that any other unitof weight alternatively may be used. Color field 60 e may include apulldown arrow for selecting the media color from a list of predefinedmedia colors. For example, predefined media colors may include white,red, yellow, green, blue, clear, pink, buff, goldenrod, gray, orange,ivory, purple, or other commonly used media colors. Optionally, a“custom” color may be included in the pulldown list that permits a userto specify a custom media color. Hole Punch field 60 f may include apulldown arrow for selecting from a list of predefined values the numberof holes punched. For example, predefined values may include “Any,” “NotPunched,” “2,” “3,” or “4,” or other commonly used values.

Referring again to FIG. 6, DELETE function button 56 b may be used todelete selected entries in universal paper catalog 44. For example, acursor may be positioned over a particular entry, and the DELETE buttonmay be selected to delete that entry. COPY function button 56 c may beused to copy an existing entry to a new entry that has a differentlabel, but otherwise has identical attributes to the existing entry.IMPORT and EXPORT function buttons 56 d and 56 e, respectively,described in more detail below, may be used to import and export papercatalog entries to and from device-specific paper catalogs used by anyprinter coupled to server 28′. SAVE function button 56 f may be used tosave any changes made to universal paper catalog 44, and CANCEL functionbutton 56 g may be used to cancel any changes to the catalog.

As described above with regard to FIG. 3, printer 32 a includes firstpaper catalog 42 a, and printer 32 b includes second paper catalog 42 b.IMPORT function button 56 d (FIG. 6) may be used to import entries inuniversal paper catalog 44 from entries in device-specific papercatalogs, or from files that use machine readable or human readable fileformats, such as job description format (“JDF”) or comma separatedenumerations. Referring now to FIG. 8, when IMPORT function button 56 dis selected from entry editor 46, an “Import Paper Catalog” pop-upwindow 62 a may be displayed that includes pulldown menu 64 a forselecting the desired device-specific paper catalog or file to import.As printers 32 are added to cluster printing system 20′ (FIG. 3), thedata used to populate pulldown menu 64 a may be updated to include anypaper catalog included in the added printer. Thus, as shown in FIG. 8,pulldown menu 64 a includes entries for Paper Catalog 1 and PaperCatalog 2 of media selection procedures 42 a and 42 b, respectively.

Upon selecting OK button 66 a in Import Paper Catalog window 62 a, an“Import Entries” pop-up window 68 a may be displayed, as illustrated inFIG. 9. Import Entries window 68 a may include a title bar 70 a thatindicates the name of the selected device-specific paper catalog whoseentries will be imported to universal paper catalog 44. In the exemplaryembodiment shown in FIG. 9, Import Entries window 68 a may be used toimport entries from Paper Catalog 1 to entries in universal papercatalog 44. Import Entries window 68 a may include a first section 72 alisting the name and associated attributes for an entry in the selecteddevice-specific paper catalog, and a second section 74 a listing thelabel and associated attribute values for the corresponding entry inuniversal paper catalog 44. If the device-specific paper catalogincludes more than one entry, pulldown arrow 76 a may be used to selecteach entry from the catalog. As each entry is displayed, the associatedattributes in first section 72 a change accordingly.

For each displayed entry, the values in second section 74 a may bemodified manually in a manner similar to that described above inconnection with Add Paper Entry window 58. That is, a user may manuallyedit the information for each entry regarding Label, Size, Type, Weight,Color, and Hole Punch. An optional “AUTO” function button 78 a may beprovided to automatically convert entries from the specifieddevice-specific paper catalog to entries in universal paper catalog 44.In this regard, the AUTO function may use any conventional logic topredict the correct entry values in second section 74 a. Followingautomatic conversion, the entry values in second section 74 a may bemanually modified if a user wants to alter the predicted values.Imported values may be saved using a SAVE function button 80 a, or maybe cancelled using a CANCEL function button 82 a.

Referring again to FIG. 6, EXPORT function button 56 e may be used toexport entries from universal paper catalog 44 to entries indevice-specific paper catalogs, or to a file that uses machine readableor human readable file formats, like JDF or comma separatedenumerations. Referring now to FIG. 10, when EXPORT function button 56 eis selected from entry editor 46, an “Export Paper Catalog” pop-upwindow 62 b may be displayed that includes pulldown menu 64 b thatallows a user to select a desired device-specific paper catalog or afile that will receive the exported data. As printers 32 are added tocluster printing system 20′ (FIG. 3), the data used to populate pulldownmenu 64 b may be updated to include any paper catalog included in theadded printer. Thus, as shown in FIG. 10, pulldown menu 64 b includesentries for Paper Catalog 1 and Paper Catalog 2 of media selectionprocedures 42 a and 42 b, respectively, and also includes an entry forexporting entries in universal paper catalog 44 to a file.

Upon selecting OK button 66 b in Export Paper Catalog window 62 b, an“Export Entries” pop-up window 68 b may be displayed, as illustrated inFIG. 11. Export Entries window 68 b may include a title bar 70 b thatindicates the name of the selected device-specific paper catalog or filethat will receive entries from universal paper catalog 44. In theexemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 11, Export Entries window 68 b may beused to export entries from universal paper catalog 44 to entries inPaper Catalog 2. Export Entries window 68 may include a first section 72b listing the label and associated attributes for an entry in universalpaper catalog 44, and a second section 74 b listing the style andassociated attribute values for the corresponding entry in the selecteddevice-specific paper catalog. If universal paper catalog 44 includesmore than one entry, pulldown arrow 76 b may be used to select eachentry from the catalog. As each entry is displayed, the associatedattributes in first section 72 b change accordingly.

For each displayed entry, the values in second section 74 b may bemodified manually in a manner similar to that described above inconnection with Add Paper Entry window 58. That is, a user may manuallyedit the information for each entry regarding Style, Size, Type, Weightand Color. An optional “AUTO” function button 78 b may be provided toautomatically convert entries from universal paper catalog 44 to entriesin the specified device-specific paper catalog. In this regard, the AUTOfunction may use any conventional logic to predict the correct entryvalues in second section 74 b. Following automatic conversion, the entryvalues in second section 74 b may be manually modified if a user wantsto alter the predicted values. Exported values may be saved using a SAVEfunction button 80 b, or may be cancelled using a CANCEL function button82 b.

Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 4, once the entries in universal papercatalog 44 have been completed, the paper catalog may be used to specifymedia for use in cluster printing system 20′. That is, a user of any ofclient devices 22 a-22 c may select media for printing print jobs 24a-24 c to any virtual printer group in cluster printing system 20′ byselecting an entry from universal paper catalog 44. To process the printrequest, universal media selector 40 converts the specified mediaattributes to formats recognized by the printers in the virtual printergroup. In particular, paper catalog translator 48 translates papercatalog entries between universal paper catalog 44 and device-specificpaper catalogs of printers coupled to server 28′, and tray associatorassociates paper catalog entries in universal paper catalog 44 withspecific trays and attributes of printers coupled to server 28′.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary paper catalog translator 48. Papercatalog translator 48 may be a two-dimensional array that may be used totranslate attribute labels and associated values in universal papercatalog 44 to corresponding attribute names and associated values indevice-specific paper catalogs. For example, paper catalog translator 48includes entries for translating attribute labels and associated valuesin universal paper catalog 44 to and from corresponding attribute namesand associated values in Paper Catalog 1 and Paper Catalog 2.

For example, universal paper catalog 44 may include an entry labeled“Generic Labels” that translates to and from entries named “Labels” inPaper Catalog 1 and styled “Label” in paper Catalog 2. Thus, if a userof any of client computers 22 a-22 c submits a print job to a virtualprinter group that includes printers 32 a and 32 b, and selects “GenericLabels” in universal paper catalog 44, paper catalog translator 48 willtranslate the media selection to “Labels” for any portion of the printjob directed to printer 32 a, and to “Label” for any portion of theprint job directed to printer 32 b.

Referring again to FIG. 4, tray associator 50 may be used to associatepaper catalog entries in universal paper catalog 44 to device-specificmedia trays and/or media attributes of printers coupled to server 28′.In particular, tray associator 50 associates previously defined entriesin universal paper catalog 44 with media tray and media attributedesignations, such as media type. Referring to FIG. 13, an exemplarytray associator in accordance with this invention is described. Trayassociator 50 includes a two dimensional array including lists ofprinters 82 and paper catalog labels 84. Expand/Contract buttons 88 maybe used to obtain detailed media tray information 90 about each printerin list 82. Thus, Printer 32 c has three media trays (Tray 1, Tray 2 andTray 3), whereas Printer 32 d has just two media trays (Tray 1 and Tray2). Paper catalog label list 84 may be used to associate media trays 90with predefined labels from universal paper catalog 44. In particular,pulldown menu 92 may be used to select a label from universal papercatalog 44 that will be associated with the specified media tray.

In the example shown in FIG. 13, Tray 1 of Printer 32 c has beenassociated with label “Default,” and Tray 2 of Printer 32 d has beenassociated with label “John's Tabs.” On some printers, a media type (orother device-specific media attribute) must be specified in addition tospecifying a media tray for proper printer operation (e.g., to avoidmedia jams). For such printers, optional media type list 86 may be usedto further associate media trays 90 with device-specific mediaattributes, as listed in the native device printer's driver. Inparticular, scrolling window 96 may be positioned adjacent a specificmedia tray 90, and pulldown tab 98 may be used to select a media type(or other device-specific media attribute) that will be associated withthe specified media tray. Thus, Tray 2 of Printer 32 c has beenassociated with type “Bond,” and Tray 1 of Printer 32 d has beenassociated with type “Label.” Thus, if a user of any of client computers22 a-22 c submits a print job to a virtual printer group that includesprinters 32 c, and selects “XYZ Co.” in universal paper catalog 44, trayassociator 50 will associate the media selection to Tray 2 for anyportion of the print job directed to printer 32 c. Similarly, if a userof any of client computers 22 a-22 c submits a print job to a virtualprinter group that includes printers 32 d, and selects “John's Tabs” inuniversal paper catalog 44, tray associator 50 will associate the mediaselection to Tray 2 and media type to “Tab” for any portion of the printjob directed to printer 32 d.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 12, 13 and 14, an exemplary method forsubmitting a print job and specifying media in a cluster printing systemin accordance with this invention is described. Beginning at step 102, auser of any of client computers 22 a-22 c submits a print job to avirtual printer group. For example, a user of client computer 22 a maysubmit print job 24 a to a virtual printer group that includes printer32 a-32 d. At step 104, the user selects media for print job 24 a fromuniversal paper catalog 44. For example, the user may select “John'sTabs” from universal paper catalog 44. At step 106, server 28′ selectsprinters from within the virtual printer group for printing the printjob. As described above, server 28′ may load balance the print job amongmultiple printers, split color from black-and-white pages in the samedocument, route a print job to the best available printer based on thenumber of pages and other characteristics, send a print job to analternate printer if a currently selected printer is out of paper ortoner or if there is a paper jam, and automatically send certain typesof jobs to specific printers, based on specified criteria such as mediacharacteristics, finishing options and device capabilities.

Once the job is divided between printers in the virtual printer group,the media selected from universal paper catalog 44 is communicated tothe various printers in a format that each printer understands. Thus, atstep 108, if portions of print job 24 a are sent to printers that use apaper catalog (e.g., printers 32 a and 32 b), the media selected fromuniversal paper catalog 44 is translated to attribute names andassociated values in device-specific paper catalogs in the virtualprinter group. In the example describe above, John's Tabs is translatedto the name “Tab 1” in Paper Catalog 1 and the style “Tab” in PaperCatalog 2. Similarly, at step 110, if portions of print job 24 a aresent to printers that use media tray or media attribute pulldown menus(e.g., printers 32 c and 32 d), the media selected from universal papercatalog 44 is associated to device-specific trays and attributes ofcorresponding printers in the virtual printer group. In the exampledescribed above, John's Tabs is associated to Tray 2 of printer 32 d(and optionally to type “Tab”).

Exemplary apparatus for implementing at least some aspects of thisinvention include a general purpose computing device, such as a personalcomputer, and a server computer, such as a server used in clusterprinting systems. Such computing devices may include a computer memorysuch as read only memory, hard disk, magnetic disk, optical disk, orother suitable memory that may be used to store software modules andother data, such as universal paper catalog data, paper catalogtranslator data, tray associator data, exported paper catalog data, orother similar files used to implement methods of the present invention.

The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of this invention, andvarious modifications can be made by persons of ordinary skill in theart without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention.

1. A cluster printing system comprising a server computer coupled to aclient device and a plurality of printers, the plurality of printerscoupled to form a virtual printer group, the server computer furthercomprising: a paper catalog comprising a plurality of entries, eachentry associating a name with a media attribute; and a media selectortool adapted to allow a user of the client computer to select media forprinting a print job to the virtual printer group by selecting an entryin the paper catalog.
 2. The cluster printing system of claim 1, whereineach of the printers comprise a corresponding device-specific mediaselection technique.
 3. The cluster printing system of claim 2, whereinone of the corresponding device-specific media selection techniquescomprises a paper catalog.
 4. The cluster printing system of claim 2,wherein one of the corresponding device-specific media selectiontechniques comprises a media tray pulldown menu.
 5. The cluster printingsystem of claim 2, wherein one of the corresponding device-specificmedia selection techniques comprises a media attribute pulldown menu. 6.The cluster printing system of claim 2, wherein a first correspondingdevice-specific media selection technique comprises a first papercatalog, and a second corresponding device-specific media selectiontechniques comprises a second paper catalog.
 7. The cluster printingsystem of claim 6, wherein the first paper catalog and the second papercatalog are the same paper catalog.
 8. The cluster printing system ofclaim 6, wherein the first paper catalog and the second paper catalogare not the same paper catalog.
 9. A method for selecting media in acluster printing system that comprises a plurality of printers coupledto form a virtual printer group, the method comprising: providing apaper catalog that comprises a plurality of entries, each entryassociating a name with a media attribute; selecting an entry in thepaper catalog to select media for printing a print job to the virtualprinter group.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein each of the printerscomprise a corresponding device-specific media selection technique. 11.The method of claim 10, wherein one of the corresponding device-specificmedia selection techniques comprises a paper catalog.
 12. The method ofclaim 10, wherein one of the corresponding device-specific mediaselection techniques comprises a media tray pulldown menu.
 13. Themethod of claim 10, wherein one of the corresponding device-specificmedia selection techniques comprises a media attribute pulldown menu.14. The method of claim 10, wherein a first correspondingdevice-specific media selection technique comprises a first papercatalog, and a second corresponding device-specific media selectiontechniques comprises a second paper catalog.
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein the first paper catalog and the second paper catalog are thesame paper catalog.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first papercatalog and the second paper catalog are not the same paper catalog. 17.The method of claim 14, wherein one of the printers comprises adevice-specific media selection technique that has a media tray pulldownmenu including a media tray, the method further comprising associatingthe selected name to the media tray.
 18. A system comprising a servercomputer coupled to a client device and a plurality of printers, theplurality of printers coupled to form a virtual printer group, each ofthe printers comprising a corresponding device-specific media selectiontechnique, the server computer further comprising: a paper catalogcomprising a plurality of entries, each entry associating a name with amedia attribute; a means for selecting media for printing a print job tothe virtual printer group by selecting an entry in the paper catalog;and a means for translating the name of the selected entry to a formthat is compatible with a plurality of the device-specific mediaselection techniques.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein one of thecorresponding device-specific media selection techniques comprises apaper catalog.
 20. The system of claim 18, wherein one of thecorresponding device-specific media selection techniques comprises amedia tray pulldown menu.
 21. The system of claim 18, wherein one of thecorresponding device-specific media selection techniques comprises amedia attribute pulldown menu.
 22. The system of claim 18, wherein afirst corresponding device-specific media selection technique comprisesa first paper catalog, and a second corresponding device-specific mediaselection technique comprises a second paper catalog.
 23. The system ofclaim 22, wherein the first paper catalog and the second paper catalogare the same paper catalog.
 24. The system of claim 22, wherein thefirst paper catalog and the second paper catalog are not the same papercatalog.
 25. A method for use with a system that comprises a pluralityof printers coupled to form a virtual printer group, each of theprinters comprising a corresponding device-specific media selectiontechnique, the method comprising: receiving a paper catalog thatcomprises a plurality of entries, each entry associating a name with amedia attribute; selecting an entry in the paper catalog to select mediafor printing a print job to the virtual printer group; and translatingthe name of the selected entry to a form that is compatible with aplurality of the device-specific media selection techniques.
 26. Themethod of claim 25, wherein one of the corresponding device-specificmedia selection techniques comprises a paper catalog.
 27. The method ofclaim 25, wherein one of the corresponding device-specific mediaselection techniques comprises a media tray pulldown menu.
 28. Themethod of claim 25, wherein one of the corresponding device-specificmedia selection techniques comprises a media attribute pulldown menu.29. The method of claim 25, wherein a first correspondingdevice-specific media selection technique comprises a first papercatalog, and a second corresponding device-specific media selectiontechnique comprises a second paper catalog.
 30. The method of claim 29,wherein the first paper catalog and the second paper catalog are thesame paper catalog.
 31. The method of claim 29, wherein the first papercatalog and the second paper catalog are not the same paper catalog. 32.The method of claim 29, wherein one of the printers comprises adevice-specific media selection technique that has a media tray pulldownmenu including a media tray, the method further comprising associatingthe selected name to the media tray.